: The most significant event of the year was Artie Lange's escalating struggle with addiction, which culminated in his official split from the show
No retrospective of 2009 is complete without examining the tragicomic arc of Artie Lange. As Howard's on-air partner since 2001, Artie had become the show's heart—a loveable, self-destructive giant whose struggles with addiction were a recurring and increasingly somber theme.
For fans and audio archivers, the 2009 archive represents the end of an era—the final calendar year where the iconic "Artie Lange Era" remained intact, alongside unforgettable celebrity interviews, staff fights, and the peak of the Sirius premium subscription boom.
Throughout the year, the archive documents Artie’s escalating battle with severe heroin addiction, depression, and exhaustion. The radio became a haunting reality show. Listeners heard Artie nod off on air, pick explosive fights with coworkers, and frequently miss work, prompting intense on-air interventions spearheaded by Howard and Robin. Howard Stern Archive 2009
2009 featured legendary, uncomfortable clashes, including Artie's explosive arguments with assistant Teddy and his bitter feuds with staff dynamic-shaker Richard Christy.
In May 2009, executive producer Gary Dell'Abate threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a New York Mets game. The pitch went catastrophically wide, hitting an umpire. The subsequent weeks of relentless, brutal, and hilarious mockery by Howard and the staff remains one of the most replayed sagas in the show's history.
Phony phone call maestros Sal Governale and Richard Christy were at the peak of their creative output in 2009. The archive is packed with classic pranks targeting public access television hosts, internet radio shows, and unsuspecting traditional businesses. Furthermore, Sal’s bizarre personal life—including his fixation on his wife’s emotional friend—provided weeks of studio mockery. The Wrap-Up Show Peak : The most significant event of the year
: Listeners competed to see who could book the biggest star for the show. This resulted in an unexpected call-in from Oscar-winner Dustin Hoffman in September 2009. Notable Guests & Performances
The most complete 2009 archives live on private trackers and Usenet groups. When searching, use specific strings like:
Beyond the celebrities and the tragedy of Artie Lange, the 2009 archive is rich with the foundational reality-TV style drama of the Stern staff and the Wack Pack. Robin Quivers providing essential commentary
faced heat over a $7,500 loan from Artie that remained unpaid, sparking a feud with Steve Langford and Howard 100 News. Key Celebrity Interviews & Guests
A frequent guest and close friend of the show, Kimmel’s 2009 appearances offer a meta-commentary on late-night television wars and the inner workings of Hollywood.
By 2009, the show had mastered the satellite radio format. Broadcasts from the SiriusXM studios in New York City were uncut, uncensored, and fueled by a massive subscriber base. The core lineup was firing on all cylinders: Howard Stern anchoring the ship, Robin Quivers providing essential commentary, Artie Lange bringing unpredictable comedic energy, Fred Norris delivering flawless sound effects, and Gary "Baba Booey" Dell'Abate managing the control room.
